Spike.



G. A. FORREST.

SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OOT,29,1912.

magma Feb. 19m

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W] T NESSE Allomey citizen of the United States, residing ful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specification, reference being plate.

finger 15 extends from the arm 13 and is vFig. 1 and forms a continuation ofthe bev- CHARLES A. FORREST, OF HARRISONVILLE. OHIO.

SPIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2%, 11914.

Application filed October 29, 1912. Serial No 728,401.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. FORREST,

at Harrisonville, in the county of Meigs and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usehad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to spikes which are intended to be used for securing railroad rails to supporting ties.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a spike which is provided with an improved type of auxiliary prong so constructed that when driven into the tie the prong will be bent toward the main body portion of the spike, thus securely locking thespike in place. Thisis accomplished by providing the prong with one flatface and with, one curved face so that although the spike is driven into the tie in the same manner that any ordinary spikes are, the curving of the prong will cause it to be bent toward the main body portion of the spike.

In the accom anying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view through the tie showing the spike in side elevation before the prong is driven into the tie. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the spike completely. driven into the tie. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the spike. Fig. 4 is a plan view'of the tie Referring to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that this spike is intended to be driven into'a railroad tie in order to secure the rail in place. This spike comprises the body portion 10 which is provided with the sharpened end 11 and with the enlarged head 12. The head 12 overhangs the sides of the body portion in order to engage the base of the rail. An arm 13 extends from the body portion 10 beneath the head 12 and is provided With a beveled end face 14. A

provided with a flattened inner face 16 which extends parallel to the body portion 10. The outer face 17 is curved as shown in eled. end face 14. When using this spike the body portion is driven into the tie 18 the same as the'ordinary railroad spike until the point of the finger 15 comes in contact with, the upper face of the tie. When the finger 15 comes in contact with-the tie the spike is driven further into the tie until the overhanging portion of the head 12 comes in contact with the base of the rail. As the finger passes into the tie the curved face 17 causes the finger to be gradually bent toward the body portion 10. The finger will then be curved as shown in Fig. 2 and the portion of the tie between the finger and the body portion will form a wedge thus preventing the spike from working loose. As this finger is driven into the tie the wedge is compressed about the finger and thus the finger will be very securely gripped and held in place.

The plate 19 which is shown in Fig. 4 is placed upon the tie before the rail is put in place, and is provided with a seat 20 in which the base ofthe rail fits. Openings 21 and 22 are formed at opposite ends of the tie plate and are to permit the spike to be driven into the tie. The body portion 10 of the spike passes through the opening 21 and the finger 15 passes through the opening 22. This opening 22 is provided with beveled edges, one of which is slightly curved as shown in Fig. 1 so that when the spike is driven into place the curvededge will cause the finger to be curled as shown in Fig. 2, thus causing the locking finger to be curved toward the spike and have its outerface form a continuation of the outer face 14 of the arm 13. r

Having. thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

The combination of a plate provided with a. spike receiving opening and a prong receiving opening having beveled guiding walls and a spike comprising a body portion, anarm extending from said body portion and provided with a beveled outer end, and

a locking finger depending from the end 1 portion of said arm and having its outer face curved from the beveled outer 'face of said arm to the inner face of the finger wher by when said body portion is passed through the spike receiving opening of said plate andv saidfinger is passed through the finger receiving opening of said plate the In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my guiding Walls will cause said finger to be signature in presence of two Witnesses.

curved toward the body portion of said spike thus causing the locking finger to be con- CHARLES FORREST 5 tinually curved from said arm and brought Witnesses into engagement with the body portion to S. H. QUEEN,

securely hold said spike in place. JESSE C. D. BROOKS.

Copies ot this patent may lie obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

